Kurt Zouma has insisted a loan to Everton does not signal the end of his Chelsea career and he will ultimately prove himself at Stamford Bridge. The 23-year-old is expected to make his full debut for Marco Silva’s team against Rotherham United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday with Michael Keane out with a hairline skull fracture and Phil Jagielka suspended.
Zouma agreed a season-long loan to Everton on deadline day after the Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, confirmed the defender’s first-team opportunities would be limited. But despite Sarri’s admission and spending last season on loan at Stoke City, the France international believes he has a future at Chelsea where he remains under contract until 2023.
“I will go back, yes,” said Zouma, who struggled to reclaim his place at Chelsea after a serious knee injury in 2016 and whose loan deal does not give Everton an option to buy.
“I have always believed in myself since I started playing football at 16. I have always wanted to show myself at Chelsea since I have been there. I know my injuries stopped me in the way I wanted to play but injuries are part of football and I want to show people I can come back and play there. That’s why I need some game time at Everton here because they are a good team.”
Zouma asked for another loan move from Chelsea following talks with Sarri, who has started the season with David Luiz and Antonio Rüdiger in central defence. “The manager arrived late and we didn’t know what was the plan of the club,” he said. “At Chelsea there were a lot of defenders. I knew I needed to play regularly so I didn’t want to stay on the bench and wait for my chance after two or three months, so that’s why I wanted to go.
“I spoke with the manager and he agreed with me. I knew at Chelsea they had five central defenders already. He plays with four at the back, so there are only two who play. I didn’t want to wait and he completely agreed.”
Keane is expected to be sidelined for a month with the injury he sustained at Bournemouth on Saturday. Zouma said: “What happened to Michael was very unfortunate for him. We all feel very sorry for him and we want him to come back as quick as possible. For my part I have come here to play and I want to take the opportunity.”
Real Sociedad have registered interest in signing Everton’s striker Sandro Ramírez on a season-long loan.
